Tag Archives: Embroidery

So many quilters have accomplished so much in January. I, on the other hand, cannot boast many accomplishments! We spent all of January near Pensacola, Florida – the coldest January there in ten years! I did have my sewing machine with me, but alas, it had issues so I packed it up the first week. I had hand work and that’s all I have to show for January! It’s really okay, though – we made the most of things, took lots of hikes and bicycle rides and saw area attractions. I think the break from my sewing machine was healthy.

I really like the redwork Snowmen. The pattern came with 12 blocks but I am done at two. (The Quilter’s Snowman by Primose Lane) I think they will make a lovely Christmas pillow (front and back.) I’ve also been diligently working on my first LollyPop Tree block (Lollypop Trees by Kim McLean). Not going to show it just yet. I plan on doing 7 more which means they won’t be done for a while – it’s a huge undertaking!

Blog Hop & Give-Away –

Thank you to all who visited the Island Batik Blog Hop. I so appreciated all the kind and supportive comments. I do read each and every one! For me it’s like a cyber retreat! A big shout out and thank you to all my followers – your support is very inspiring. And the winner is: Karen of Tu-Na Quilts, Travels and Eats. Congrats Karen – I know you’ll love your rolls of batik fabric!

Sunflowers are one of my favorites. They are so big, sunny and cheerful. And in the midst of the beastly cold snap we’re experiencing in the NC Piedmont, they are a welcoming sight. I’d wanted to do this wall hanging for some time and started it about 4 or 5 years ago. Thought I’d never finish it! The background is various sunflower fabrics sewn together in uneven strips. It was then quilted and bound. I wanted the sunflowers to make a BIG statement so I decided to do a dimensional applique.

All the petals and leaves were sewn right sides together then turned. The stems were cut on the bias, machine sewn down on one side then hand stitched on the other. The petals were put in place and machine quilted.

The centers of the flowers were fun to construct. Three quarter inch strips were sewn together, cross cut, then sewn together again to make a checkerboard. This project was definitely consuming me at this point! There was no way the centers could be sewn down by machine – too thick. I chose brown pearl cotton and a hefty needle, but still could not easily sew. Pliers to the rescue! This turned into work and made my hand ache, so I attacked it little by little each evening.

The centers still needed something so I added some beads. Then hubby suggested that the quilt needed a bee. I just stared at him for a moment and then declared, “you are so right!” A few sketches later and a trip to the store for yellow and black beads, the bee was taking shape in my head. It took a whole evening to stitch that li’l critter and I love him! Thanks hubby! After I added the bee’s “flight pattern” it was definitely time to celebrate – “Reach For The Sun” was complete!

The date on the label should be February 2017 – when I made the label and quilted it in, I was SO sure the quilt would be done last November!!

Two weeks ago a friend and I visited Charleston, SC with a side trip to Summerville, SC which is just outside Charleston. It is a charming little town with shops and restaurants and best of all, a great quilt shop. People, Places and Quilts is in a fine old building. It is such a treasure hunt as you go from room to room, each filled with fabrics, tools, threads and so much more.

Diane, the owner is a delight as was the other staff members there. They are all friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Above is Diane the worker bee, Diane the Owner and Diane my traveling companion. Then there is me and my cousin who lives in Summerville.

There are quilts on display everywhere – such inspiration! Some on display were also class samples.

Lots and lots of fabrics. Prints, batiks, solids and many scrumptious flannels.

This antique cash register was not only a joy to look at – it works and is used for all the shop sales! Do you embroider? Applique? Work with wool felt? There was a whole section devoted to all of those!

I strongly suggest you stop by to see this wonderful shop if you are ever any where near Summerville. I’ve checked out their class list and might just have to “visit” my cousin soon!!

The very last finish of 2016 was fun!. This colorful and creative pillow was a mix of piecing, applique and decorative stitching. I think the basket background really pops with the polka dots surrounding it. The leaves are felted wool and the flowers are fussy cut cotton prints appliqued onto felted wool. The real joy came when I began doing decorative stitching on the leaves and flowers. There was no plan – I just went with whatever seemed like a good choice at the time. Whoa – I did have to make myself stop because I could have stitched and stitched! This pillow looks really good on my living room sofa. However, kitty likes to paw on it so it is now resting on a guest room bed. It looks pretty there too, I just don’t get to see it very often.

I think my all time favorite finish of 2016 was Prism Arabesque. It continues to bring me joy as it sets on display in the living room.

The first finish of 2017 – and on the first day (!!) is also my first charity quilt of the year. It is a baby quilt that will go to a child in the hospital. It is made up of blocks from a storybook panel cut apart and sewn together with blocks and strips. It’s a fun and colorful little quilt and I love the crayon fabric on the back. As I make these little quilts for children and babies, I always think of the warmth and comfort it will bring them, but more so of the comfort and joy it will bring to their parents.

Yesterday the Hospice quilt makers gathered at the local Hospice office and donated all the quilts we made in 2016. The upper pic is of the quilters and two Hospice employees. It is just so joyful to see how excited they are to receive these quilts and how they look forward to passing them on to patients. The children quilts usually go to a child of a patient that has passed away. It was good to hear that they have very few child patients. We are all looking forward to sewing more quilts for 2017 and will even be welcoming a new member to our group!